Teres, redpoint or galibier turntable

I expected this reaction from some audiophiles. Between ignorance, cynicism, egotism and self-interest, it was inevitable. Still, I welcome the opportunity to answer these blatantly unfair insinuations. First charge...

"...The love affair with his buddy Israel and Coincident products makes him more akin to than different from the magazine reviewers. "

Let's compare this statement with the actual facts. This can be verified by going to my website: Recommended Components and "Changes and Updates". The entire 8 year history (1999-2007) is posted there. What will you find?

In those entire 8 years, with Coincident coming out with 20 or so speakers, only one, the Total Victory II, has been added to my Recommended Speakers (Class B), unless you count the Triumphs added to "Entry-Level". Also, I actually demoted the (discontinued) Eclipse series when I recommended the Total Victory II (Class B to Class C). So, just one current Coincident speaker has been "Recommended" in the last 8 years. That's a "Love affair"?! (TAS, then, must be "Tristan and Isolde"!)

The Coincident amplifiers: From 1999 up to February 2007, I recommended one model, and only after making direct comparisons with the ASL Hurricane, and with other audiophiles present. To have ignored what we all clearly heard would have been simply lying. (The Frankenstein is discussed below.)

Cables: Every result, positive and negative, was confirmed by others. Example: the I.C. had more than 20 blind comparisons to the Wireworld Gold Eclipse III, made with customers in 2000. Was I suppose to ignore this also? Further, I posted, 4 years ago now, that all these I.C. results were "outdated", and have even recently removed them entirely. When the Coincident "Extreme" speaker cable was itself outperformed by the Polk, on my SET amplifiers, this was duly noted, and the cables placed in "Lower". Maybe that was just a "one night stand".

Second charge, in "quotes"...

"COINCIDENT M300B FRANKENSTEIN MK II - THE FINEST AMPLIFIER TO EVER GRACE THIS PLANET!!!!!"

This "quote" is a gross exaggeration, and obviously meant to be highly prejudicial. Below is what I actually wrote and posted...

"This is, without a doubt, the finest amplifier, overall, I have ever heard. Two of my associates have also heard this amplifier, in my system, and agree with this opinion and evaluation."

There is a profound difference between these two statements. I spent over two months researching and writing how, and why, I came to this conclusion. Since I had the same opinion earlier, with the Golden Tube Audio 300B (for 11 years!) and the Tektron amplifier modified, I wonder why it's only now that I'm described as going "ga-ga"?

Am I also "ga-ga" with Polk speaker cables, or the Bent Silver transformer, or the ZYX cartridges (and head amp) or the VPI line of turntables, tonearms and cleaning machines? And what about the Forsell turntable and the Avantgarde horn speakers? They're both in Class A, by themselves. Don't forget Wyetech, Tom Tutay, V-Caps, CAT, ASL, Denon, Manley and Atma-sphere!

Comparing me to the main stream commercial audio press is highly ignorant, if not malicious. Their priority is to "sell". My priorities are to enlighten myself and to advise and help others if possible. For instance...

I almost always prominently bring up why a person should NOT purchase something. Just go over all of the caveats and conditions I discuss with the Frankenstein amplifier alone (URL below-Part 3). This is why I also emphasize modifying equipment, if possible, before changing it. It is also why I recommend numerous discontinued components, which can be purchased used, in favor of newer components.

The Golden Tube 300B (modified) was my amplifier (Class A!) "Reference" for 11 years. I never met them, did business with them, and the company went bankrupt many years ago now. Do you think Fremer, Stereophile, TAS, or any of the commercial magazines and writers would have done that? (Where is the potential $$$ upside to them?) If anyone does, they can confidently add "fool" to their self description.

Yours truly, Arthur Salvatore

http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Frankenstein.html

I'm keen on trying those amps - seems like a tough thing to do though, even in the same city! I'll have to convince Mr. Blume to lend me his for a day. That's as objective as I can be.

The old "listen for yourself" doesn't often work in practice (no dealer, representation outside of major US metropolitan areas), but in this case, I just might get lucky.

Interesting discussion until it went awry. Let's keep it civil gentlemen.

Just to add my 2c, I'm in general agreement with the others above, the Galibier would have been my top choice, except that I'm not in the US, so it was a question of support for me. I do love the quiet of their tables.

I did get to hear the Teres at the RMAF through a less than pristine setup. The thing that struck me was when wood platter was switched for the acrylic(lead shot), there was a marked difference for the better. The wood platter IMO was coloring the sound making the images woolly.

If the Raven was in the same price range, it should be considered seriously too.

Arthur
Much as I do like reading your thoughts on some issues, they are your opinions in the light of the system which you and your associates use. With the multitude of system variables, not to mention differing room acoustics, a recommendation is only valid in the context in which that recommendation is made.

Arthur,
First, of all name calling and the rest is simply childish and akin to what you accused Fremer of doing to you. If that's the course you choose to pursue, go for it.

Now, if you take the time to read my post more carefully it was footnoted with IMO. Like it or not, my opinions are just as valid as yours. Perhaps more so, given your relationship with certain manufacturers.

Like it or not, your blog contains a disproportionate number of reviews, comments, and referrals regarding your Canadian buddy and his products in the context of all the manufacturers/models possibilities at your disposal.

Those are the facts IMO although you might find them to be a Coincidence.

Hi Cmk. Somewhat of a coincidence that I read a similar response on Arthur’s blog to your experience at the RMAF.

Gcj123, I was considering three or the marques you mention, and had a similar budget. If you do have the time (I did not), I would suggest you try audition and speak directly with the manufacturers. I am sure they all could be very good and certainly worth considering.

Due to time constraints and lack of creditable reviews on all except the VPI, I was reduced to reading owners responses/comments. Reading between the lines of the all the “my table is the best” post, I saw a number of statements that I found deeply troubling.

One comment in particular, made by a few of owners, pertained to the inability of unipivots to match/mate well with low compliance carts. This was very strange to me as my experience with unipivots and low compliance cart over a period of many years was the dead opposite. That coupled with the fact that highly knowledgeable individuals like Mr. v.d. Hull himself state that uni-pivots are recommended for low compliance carts, I was left wondering if their experiences were not down to some characteristic or incompatibility of their turntables.

As I mentioned, I was quite rushed so I did not bother to get to the bottom of this, but I suggest you confirm as you may find your tone arm/cart options limited.

Regards
Paul